The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-08
yIGILANTES OF MONTANA.

ped OF United States troops, and the
population OF that territory embraced
many Adventures and criminals, who
recognized neither law nor the right
OF property, the so-called road agents
held high carnival, and horrible crimes
on the high roads were Of daily occur
renee. Then it was that afew fearless
men decided to take the law into their
own hands and to relieve the country
OF this dangerous element.
Upon the secret call OF these men
among whom Colonel C. Sanford, an
attorney, and X. Beidler, q Deputy
United States marshal, deserve to be
especially mentioned, and who still
live as highly respected citizens in Hell
ena, Nc Mt, the organization OF the
"Vigiantes," was called into existence,
the members pledging themselves by
solemn.oath to mutual support in
proceeding against the outlaws.
That such an undertaking was no
child's play. but required courage and
determination, will be readily believed
when the reader learns that many OF
the territorial officers we're the lead
ers OF the gang, which numbered sew.
eral hundred and boosted OF O
thorough organization.
II the robbers, in their attacks upon
mail coaches and immigrant trains,
ran no risk OF being recognized, they
would occasionally spare the lives OF
their victims, but murder was their
business in case OF the least danger OF
recognition.
That these unhanged scoundrels
were in the majority miserable cow
ards became evident, when they were
finally hunted down. Sheriff Plum
mer, OF Bannack county. captain OF
the band, died while kneeling before
them with fearful eyes, pleading for
that mercy which he had never grant
ed his own victims.
Some OF them, however, died gritty.
uttering the most blasphemous curses
upon the heads OF their executors.
Bill Ives and Dutch John, two
| OF the most notorious OF
the band, laughed, sang, danced
and smoked up to the last moment.
After they had taken position upon
some empty drygoods boxes under
the fatal oak tree, with the rope
around their necks, Y. Beidler inquir-
ed OF the former il he desired to make
any statement.
END the--business, he replied;
az am getting tired OF it," Then turn
ing to his neighbor, Dutch John, he
added. Good bye, pard, I'll be with
you in hell IN about five minutes"
A great deal has been said and writ
ten by eastern philanthrophists
against these Wholesale executions,
for it was feared that the vigilantes,
in their wrath and zeal, had been led
to many acts ofiniustice. Such charg-
es are in my opinion groundless, for
those men acted from o sincere sense
OF duty, and in strict conformity with
the forms OF legal tribunals. During
tho trial the accused had the assist
ance OF an attorney and every facility
to prove his innocence was granted
him, after which a sworn jury would
come to q conclusion In the most de-
lberate and conscientious manner.
No one was put to death upon
whose guilt rested the least doubt
those who were merely suspected were
ordered out OF the territory under
penalty OF death. In the iall OF 1862,
during which year over seventy OF
these bandits we're executed, q certain
Henry Brent fell into the hands OF the
vicilantes. There was no direct evil
denee connecting him with any crime,
buthe had been found in bad COM
pany. The usual decree OF exile, with
its accompanying threat, was impos-
ed upon nam.
Brent insisted upon his innocence.
He was O young man OF prepossessing
appearance, with a frank counte-
nance, and one glance into his dark
blue eyes told Of respectable parent
age. With cast down countenance
and deep sigh he turned from his
harsh judges, mounted his pony and
disappeared among the trees.
IL was already dark when the meet
ing broke up after their days work,
which had ended with three hangings.
The twenty men rode in different
directions towards their camps.
John Stuart. X. Beidler, James Ar
neaux and John Healy, whose journey
lay in the same direction and who
had nearly sixty miles before them,
left together. Nothing unusual took
place during the next few hours OF the
strip, which was silently passed at
swift gallop.
About ten o'clock, just as the moon
was pouring its flood OF silver light
through the tree-tops. there was sud
den report of shot in the immediate
vicinity, followed by dozen or more
Il l.. c,,;ol- a,,ooaoo tOn